Jim Zub Pens More D&D Comic Book Adventures With Evil At Baldur’s Gate

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The city of Baldur’s Gate has become the centerpiece of much of the central lore of Dungeons & Dragons. Many fans first discovered the strange city in the legendary series of computer RPGs released in the late 90s (and recently re-released with enhanced features). It was the subject of one of the most popular D&D Next playtest modules, Murder in Baldur’s Gate. It got some board game recognition with Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate. And now, Jim Zub is returning to the city in comic form with Evil at Baldur’s Gate, coming this April from IDW Publishing.

“This is our fourth D&D mini-series with this cast,” said Zub, “but it’s also the most character-centric. Each issue is focused on one character from the adventuring party and so you get into their heads a bit more to see how they tick. Yes, previous stories happened, but in terms of getting to know who the cast are and what makes them tick, Evil At Baldur’s Gate is a great way to jump on board.”

Jim Zub (Avengers) is no stranger to fantasy comics, whether it’s his fan-favorite Skullkickers or previous D&D titles like Dungeons & Dragons: Frost Giant’s Fury. Zub also has a hand in the adventures of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as the writer of Avengers: No Surrender. He will be paired with a variety of artists throughout the five issues of the series. Each issue will also focus on a different character, beginning with Minsc the Mighty (and Boo!) in issue one. Minsc has to deal with a deadly bout of jealousy as he loses his Favored Ranger status in the city. What will he do to get it back? Dean Kotz (Charmed, Poe)handles the art for this issue, with Zub reteaming with his Wayward artist Steve Cummings for the second issue.

Zub also happens to be a lifelong fan of Dungeons & Dragons, citing the classic adventure Ravenloft as his favorite. “Dungeons & Dragons sparked a lifelong desire to create stories in me that’s never really gone away,” said Zub. “It taught me about engaging an audience, building memorable characters, and letting plans go when a better spontaneous idea comes along. Dungeons & Dragons is a wonderful way to captivate people, friends or strangers, and unlock their creativity.”

And how has being a professional writer influenced his D&D games?

“Writing and RPGs both have structure but those rules should never overwhelm the emotional content,” said Zub. Great stories don’t come from consulting charts, compiling statistics, or following a formula, they happen when you immerse your audience in excitement and drama. The rules of an RPG are a vehicle for bringing people together and empowering them, not a dry series of technical specifications to be followed to the bitter end. In that same way, a great story might ramble at times and even teeter on the brink of collapse, but if you give readers something genuine – emotion and entertainment – they’ll stick with you.

Evil at Baldur’s Gate #1 is expected in stores in mid-April. Dean Kotz and Max Dunbar covers will be available. The full Max Dunbar cover is featured in this article above, featuring all the characters featured in the series!